Equity Investments And Other

6 Months Ended

Jul. 28, 2012

Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]

Equity Investments And Other

Equity Investments and Other

Third-party Apparel Sourcing Business

On October 31, 2011, the Company divested 51% of its ownership interest in its third-party apparel sourcing business to affiliates of Sycamore Partners for pre-tax cash proceeds of $124 million. The Company's remaining ownership interest is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the divestiture of $111 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, the Company received additional pre-tax cash proceeds of $11 million as settlement of a working capital adjustment. The proceeds are included in Other Investing Activities within the Investing Activities section of the 2012 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

In conjunction with the transaction, the Company entered into transition services agreements whereby the Company is providing support in various operational areas including logistics, technology and finance. The terms of these transition services arrangements vary and range from two months to three years.

The Company's carrying value for this investment was $72 million as of July 28, 2012 and January 28, 2012 and is included in Other Assets on the July 28, 2012 and January 28, 2012 Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company's share of net income (loss) from this investment is included in Other Income on the 2012 Consolidated Statements of Income.

Express

On April 12, 2011, the Company sold 5.5 million shares of its common stock in Express for $99 million. As a result, the Company’s ownership interest was reduced to 8% and the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $86 million, which is included in Other Income on the 2011 Consolidated Statements of Income. On April 21, 2011, the Company formally renounced its rights to its Express Board of Directors’ seat. As a result, the Company commenced accounting for its investment in Express using the available-for-sale method of accounting in the first quarter of 2011.

In July 2011, the Company contributed all of its remaining 7.2 million shares of Express, valued at $163 million, to The Limited Brands Foundation. This charitable contribution funded the Company’s April 2011 $50 million pledge to The Limited Brands Foundation and provided additional funding for their charitable activities. As a result, the Company recognized contribution expense in the second quarter of 2011 of $113 million equal to the difference between the market value of the Express shares on the date of the contribution and the amount of the pledge made in the first quarter of 2011. These amounts are included in General, Administrative and Store Operating Expenses on the 2011 Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company also recognized a non-taxable gain of $147 million representing the difference between the market value of the Express shares on the date of the contribution and the Company’s net carrying value. The gain is included in Other Income on the 2011 Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company maintains agreements with Express whereby the Company continues to provide logistics services and lease office space. The Company's third-party apparel sourcing business, which the Company divested in the fourth quarter of 2011, also continues to provide merchandise sourcing services to Express. The Company recognized merchandise sourcing revenue from Express of $108 million and $192 million in the second quarter of 2011 and year-to-date 2011, respectively. The Company’s accounts receivable from Express for merchandise sourcing and other services provided totaled $78 million as of July 30, 2011.

Easton Investment

The Company has land and other investments in Easton, a 1,300 acre planned community in Columbus, Ohio that integrates office, hotel, retail, residential and recreational space. These investments, at cost, totaled $73 million as of July 28, 2012, $70 million as of January 28, 2012 and $68 million as of July 30, 2011 and are recorded in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Included in the Company’s Easton investments is an equity interest in Easton Town Center, LLC (“ETC”), an entity that owns and has developed a commercial entertainment and shopping center. The Company’s investment in ETC is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The Company has a majority financial interest in ETC, but another unaffiliated member manages ETC. Certain significant decisions regarding ETC require the consent of unaffiliated members in addition to the Company.